Athens
, 12 March 2008
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning. I’ll start with a few announcements. Today, at 12:00, Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis will attend the graduation ceremony of the 17th class of Embassy Attachés, at the Foreign Ministry.
Tomorrow, 13 March, Ms. Bakoyannis will fly to Brussels, accompanying the Prime Minister to the Spring European Council. Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis will also be joining the delegation. The proceedings of the Spring European Council will be completed on Friday, 14 March, and the basic issues on the agenda are the Lisbon Strategy, energy and climate change.
At the dinner of heads of state and government there is to be a discussion on external aspects of energy security, the stability of financial markets, and the Mediterranean union. The situation and developments in Afghanistan will be discussed at the Foreign Ministers’ luncheon.
Today, at 10:00, Mr. Valinakis met at the Foreign Ministry with Slovak Foreign Ministry State Secretary Ms. Diana Strofova, who is on a working visit to our country.
On Monday, 17 March, at 12:00, Mr. Valinakis will meet with the Chairman of the Bulgarian National Assembly, Mr. Georgi Pirinski, who is carrying out an official visit to our country.
Today, at 11:00, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Doukas will meet with the Israeli Ambassador to Athens, Mr. Ali Yahya, and on Tuesday, 18 March, he will deliver the opening speech at the Greek-Israeli Meeting on Energy Issues. This event will take place at the Titania hotel.
That’s it for announcements. Your questions, please.
Ms. Spanou: Mr. Babacan stated that he discussed minority issues – plural – with Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis. Will you clarify for us exactly what they discussed – particularly regarding Thrace. And whether you have any comment on the interesting statements Mr. Mitsotakis made on Skai TV’s “Files” regarding how Konstantinos Karamanlis blocked his acceptance of a compound name.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As you know, it is the intention of the Greek government that there be dialogue and discussion with the government of Turkey at every opportunity, with the aim of pursuing a constant course of improvement in bilateral relations with Turkey.
Regarding the matter of whether issues concerning the Greek minority in Istanbul and the Muslim minority in Thrace were discussed, brief reference was made to two recent bills concerning the vakoufs [foundations] in Greece and charitable foundations and foundation assets in Turkey. That was what was mentioned.
I reiterate and remind you of an older statement I made, that there is neither a structured dialogue – in the sense of committees – nor other mechanism for consultation and discussion between the two Ministries regarding minority issues.
And we have also said – and I repeat – that the obligations Turkey has undertaken, as a candidate for EU accession, concerning human and minority rights, are in no way connected with or linked to the policy our country is implementing with regard to the Muslim minority in Thrace.
I have no comment on your second question.
Mr. Meletis: If they are not linked, Mr. Spokesman, then why did Ms. Bakoyannis feel that there was an obligation for her to brief them on the Greek law concerning the vakoufs [foundations]?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: There was no obligation, Mr. Meletis. She felt no obligation. It was within the framework of a discussion.
Mr. Meletis: So Mr. Babacan briefed her?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Of course he briefed her. Within the framework of a discussion between two foreign ministers – and not just on the level of foreign ministers, on other levels as well – there can be discussion of legislation in force in a country. This is what took place within the framework of this discussion, and there is nothing out of the ordinary in this.
Mr. Meletis: So you’re telling us that Mr. Souflias briefed them on the Physical Planning bill last month? For what reason? That’s what I’m asking. It’s a specific piece of legislation. And I ask again: Did Mr. Babacan request an explanation, with Ms. Bakoyannis giving clarifications or feeling a general obligation? She talked about the law concerning the vakoufs in Thrace.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Just as there is Greek interest in relevant legislation in Turkey – to what extent its regulates or whether it regulates things satisfactorily, or whether it is a step ahead –Turkey is interested in a law that concerns the Muslim minority: what the law covers, what it doesn’t cover.
I think that within the framework of a dialogue between two countries that are pursuing improved relations, there is nothing keeping such a dialogue from taking place.
Mr. Meletis: My last question. So what you are telling us now is that you, as representatives of the Foreign Ministry, recognise the legal right of Mr. Babacan, as the Turkish Foreign Minister, to express his interest – on a bilateral level and at summit meetings, Mr. Erdogan a short while ago – in matters concerning the Muslim minority of Thrace, who are Greek citizens.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Mr. Meletis, what I said holds true.
Beyond that, I did not refer to a right.
You are describing it as a right. I repeat that within the framework of an exchange of views, there can be discussion of a law that has already been passed. It would be another kind of discussion if it took place at another stage in the law-making process, prior to the law entering into force.
Ms. Voudouri: Mr. Spokesman, I would like a clarification because the Minister made some statements in Brussels regarding the visa issue. Will Greece finally sign a bilateral agreement with the United States or will it respond to the European Commission’s and the competent Commissioner’s calls for the Commission to negotiate on behalf of all the member states?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Let me try to clarifiy this matter, because I read today’s newspaper articles with particular interest; to give you the current state of play. Let me remind you concerning our own matters, first of all.
As you know, a new federal law was adopted in August 2007 on the modernisation of the US visa waiver programme.
Greece was and still is the first country to be officially nominated as a candidate for inclusion in the programme, within the framework of cooperation between Greek and US authorities. There are ongoing consultations and meetings, on which we have occasionally briefed you through Foreign Ministry announcements on how this process is moving ahead.
Greece is the only candidate country to fulfil both the old and the new criteria, as the American side itself has recognised.
The provisions of this new U.S. legislation – as included in the draft bilateral agreements that the US is asking each individual country to sign separately on this matter – concern all the EU member states. So a framework of draft bilateral agreements for all the member states of the European Union is provided for.
Irrespective of whether they are candidate countries or are already included in the visa waiver programme. U.S. authorities have already proposed signing bilateral memoranda of understanding, beginning with the candidate countries for inclusion in the visa waiver programme that are member states of the European Union.
Some of the measures provided for in these memoranda of understanding fall within the competence of the European Commission. There is, therefore, an interest on the part of the European Commission. And it should be noted that a few days ago, the Czech Republic signed such a memorandum of understanding with the United States. The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union.
Within the European Union, a framework of negotiation principles has already been agreed for bringing these memoranda of understanding into conformity with community law. Relevant consultations are still being held within the European Union and I think they are currently continuing at the level of COREPER.
What is Greece’s stance? It firmly supports coordination between the member states at the soonest possible time, with a view to moving ahead on the US visa waiver issue and drafting bilateral agreements so that they comply not only with Greece’s national legislation, but also with the community acquis and community competences.
These are more technical details that basically clarify the statements made by the Foreign Minister the day before yesterday in Brussels. Statements that you all aware of. I stress in particular the place in the Minister’s statement referring to our intention to move as fast as possible with our consultations with the U.S., concurrently discussing general guidelines within the European Union.
Mr. Meletis: I’m asking because the Commission mentions that the norms included in it do not comply with the community acquis; Greece might well reconcile these two positions, but will it sign the memorandum? I guess that this memorandum is a given, isn't it?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Yes, I will tell you. The content of the memorandum has particular aspects. Based on these, based on national legislation, and on our intention to move ahead and close this issue with the United States, also with regard to the community acquis, we are moving ahead with consultations. I would like to remind you that there are two kinds of countries within the European Union: those already exempted from the visa obligation, which do not include Greece, and those countries, such as Greece and the new member states, which are not included in the visa waiver programme.
Our efforts are aimed at exempting our country and managing to join the group of our partner countries that have been included in the visa waiver programme for all these years. Beyond that, I explained to you how things stand.
Mr. Meletis: So is the memorandum’s content to be negotiated by each country, or is it a given?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No it is a memorandum for each country. Greece’s relevant consultation with the U.S. are continuing and we are concurrently taking part in the relevant discussion under way within the European Union.
Mr. Meletis: So the memorandum’s content might change?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I repeat that there is an ongoing consultation process; the matter is not closed. We are not a day away from signing.
Mr. Athanassopoulos: Could you give us the outline of this memorandum?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No, I do not have a full picture of this memorandum.
Mr. Meletis: Are we going to Geneva on Monday?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Neither the time nor the place has been set yet. In any event, the meeting of the negotiators with Mr. Nimetz is to take place some time in mid-March.
Mr. Meletis: Are views expressed by top political figures, i.e., that the name issue is of no significance and should have been closed in 1992, helpful to Greece’s foreign policy at the present stage?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Greek foreign policy and efforts made by the government are aimed at achieving a mutually acceptable solution. You are well aware of our policy and the framework and elements of this policy. And we will keep up these efforts.
Thank you.